Fluidic washing machine

ABSTRACT

A MACHINE FOR WASHING OBJECTS, UTILIZING THE VIBRATORY AND OSCILLATORY EFFECTS OF FLUIDIC OSCILLATORS INCLUDING A CONTAINER FOR ARTICLES TO BE WASHED, A PLURALITY OF FLUID DISCHARGE OUTLETS DIRECTLY INWARDLY OF THE CONTAINER AND AT LEAST ONE FLUIDIC OSCILLATOR IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DISCHARGE OUTLETS TO PROVIDE PULSATION OF THE FLUID DISCHARGED INTO THE CONTAINER.

Nov. 16, 1971 p, GLASGOW 3,6Z0,Q50

FLUIDIC WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 25, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 '7r w 24 k I 18 C r I 1 if J l I l 40 1 v 1H] 1 L INVENTOR.

PAUL J- GLASGOW P- J. GLASGOW FLUIDIC WASHING MACHINE Nov. 16, 1971 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 25, 1969 INVENTOR. PAUL J. GLASGOWHTTDRNE Y5 Nov. 16, 1971 P.J. GLASGOW FLUIDIC WASHING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Feb. 25, 1969 INVENTOR. PAUL J. GLHS'GOWAT T 013MB Y5 United States Patent O1 ice 3,620,050 Patented Nov. 16,1971 US. Cl. 68355 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine forwashing objects, utilizing the vibratory and oscillatory effects offluidic oscillators including a container for articles to be washed, aplurality of fluid discharge outlets directly inwardly of the containerand at least one fluidic oscillator in communication with the dischargeoutlets to provide pulsation of the fluid discharged into the container.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division ofapplicants co-pending patent application Ser. No. 801,991, filed Feb.25, 1969, under the title Washing Machine, said application having sincebecome abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention Machines forwashing small objects.

(2) Description of the prior art Washing machines of all kinds are knownto the art and include machines which have electronic and mechanicalvibratory mechanisms to enhance thhe cleansing action. An example whichutilizes high frequency vibrations is an ultrasonic cleaner.

Also known to the art of fluidics are fluidic oscillators. Examples ofUnited States patents showing such oscillators are the following:

Patent No. Date Name 3,001,539 9/26, 1961 Hurvitz 3,016,066 1/ 9,1962Warren 3,030,979 4/24,1962 Reilly 3,098,504 7/23,1963 Joesting 3,111,93111/26,,1963 Bodine 3,158,166 11/24, 1964 Warren 3,185,166 /25, 1965Horton 3,320,966 5/23, 1967 Swartz SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention utilizes for the first time theunique advantages of fluidicoscillators for the purpose of washing small objects.

Prior hereto fluidic oscillators have been considered as pneumaticcomponents in fluidic systems which substitute for electrical or soniccircuits. For electric analogies it may be noted that a fluidicoscillator is a negative feedback oscillator, and its usefulness outsidethe con-fines of a fluidic circuit has been completely disregarded.

The present invention provides a useful mechanical function which isentirely new and a practical use in connection with a common dailychore.

Briefly and not by way of limitation, the present invention provides acontainer into which the object to be cleaned is placed. Molded into theside walls of the container are a plurality of oscillators which areconnected through hosing or piping to a faucet or other pressurizedliquid supply. The outputs of the oscillators are in reality highfrequency pulses of liquid (water, cleaning fluid,

etc.). These pulses which oscillate from nozzle to nozzle (pluralitiesof nozzles may be present) cause high frequency oscillation andagitation of the bath surrounding the objects to be washed as theseimpulses are directed inwardly of the container and the water issuingtherefrom and impinging directly and indirectly upon the object cleansthe object through a combination of mechanical vibration, agitation andthe reaction of air bubbles on embedded dirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is -a top view of the washingmachine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the washing machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the washing machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a modified form of the invention, in which acompound oscillating system is shown.

FIG. 7 is a partial view of a modified embodiment of the presentinvention showing the use of venturis.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is another modified view showing in addition to the venturisseparate inlet holes thereto.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 10- 10 of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11 to 14 are schematic representations of the operation of afluidic oscillator.

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of a further modified version of theinvention showing a single fluidic oscillator in a handle mount adaptedfor hand held oral cavity use.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION -Washing machine10 of the present invention is comprised of a molded basin 12 havingsloping side walls 14, back wall 16 with an overflow outlet 18, and asubstantially planar rim 20. A fluid conduit 2 begins at a standard hosefitting 24 in the front portion of rim 20, branches into opposing sideruns, and ends in basin 12 by way of a fluid oscillator 26 in eachinclined side wall 14. Water entering the conduit follows the pathsdescribed, entering basin 12, impinging upon an object therein, andleaving through overflow 18'.

The operation of each fluidic oscillator begins with an examination ofits detail. Branching off at equal angles to inlet 30 are two outlets 31and 32 between which is an inclined surface 34, inclined toward and infavor of outlet 31 hereinafter referred to as the first outlet. Betweeninlet 30 and inclined plane 34 and extending sidewardly of each of theoutlets is a feedback chamber 36, 37, which is a curved conduitreturning to inlet 30.

Water or any other fluid entering via inlet 30 is deflected by inclinedplane 34 toward and through first outlet 31. At the same time, however,water thus conducted is partially directed into feedback chamber 36,swirled around to inlet 30, and impinges on the water flow therethrough.Such impingement deflects the primary water flow from first outlet 31 tosecond outlet 32 and into feedback chamber 37, which in turn returns aportion of the flow to inlet 30, again deflecting that flow to firstoutlet 31. The resultant water flow is an oscillatory pulsation firstfrom first outlet 31, then from second outlet 32, and back to firstoutlet 31 at a high frequency of oscillation. Outlets 3'1 and 32 end inorifices 40 directed inwardly of bowl 12 and toward any object 3therein. The sequence of oscillation is shown schematically in FIGS. 11through 14.

To increase the cleansing activity of the pulsating water, a pluralityof fluidic oscillators may be used in whatever orientation is optimum.In FIG. 1 there are shown two opposed fluidic oscillators by way ofexample. In FIG. 6 the same two fluidic oscillators of FIGS. 1 are shownbeing fed by a third fluidic oscillator at the inlet hose fitting 24.The result is not only fluid oscillation by each of the two oscillatorsindividually, but also oscillation between both oscillators opposed atbowl 12.

It has been found that relatively small objects such as finger rings,dentures, jewelry, electronic components, tools and the like arecleansed of years of grime without the addition of any soaps ordetergents but merely through the action of the water itself. Anycleansing fluid may, of course, be used as desired to enhance andaccelerate the cleansing action.

Other modifications may be had. For example, each discharge outlet legmay be a portion of a venturi such that the opening is a venturiorifice. The pulsating fluid stream is provided with higher flowvelocity and the accompanying pressure drop due to fluid dynamics isuseable as a feeder to inject a cleaning solution or air bubbles intothe main stream.

Thus, in FIGS. 710 outlets 70 are shown to have venturi constrictions toprovide the desired increase in flow velocity. FIGS. 9 and 10additionally show opening 72 located at the venturi constriction whichis at each discharge opening. In accordance with well-known theories,such as Bernoullis Theorem, there is a greatly reduced pressure at theventuri constriction which would tend to draw, into the constriction andthe pulsating stream therein, any fluid which may be in, surrounding orconducted to opening 72. In a simple case, this may be air which isdrawn into the pulsating stream and ejected through the venturi orificeto provide a stream of air bubbles which impinge upon the object to becleaned.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an additional modification in which openings 72extend from the bottom of a dish 74 to the venturi neck. Liquiddetergents or any other desired fluid may be placed in the dish forabsorption into the pulsating stream of the venturi. For convenience,dish 74 extends from one venturi to the other to permit a single fillingof fluid to suflice for both openings.

Still another modification of the present invention, shown in FIG. 15,is the embodiment of the fluidic oscillator in a small portable head 80connected to a water supply, such as a sink faucet, by a flexible tube82. Portable head 80 may be small enough to place in a persons mouth forcleansing teeth. In this modification, the oscillator head, includingall operating portions such as shown 4 schematically in any of FIGS.11-14 could be no larger than a toothbrush. Hand held fluidicoscillators of this type may be used not only for oral cleansing but forgeneral purpose cleansing as well, such as cleaning a sink or any otherobject. Beyond its small size and portability, the modification ischaracterized by the small distance between orifices 40 to localize thearea of most efficient cleaning.

What is claimed is: 1. A washing machine, comprising: (a) a containerfor articles to be washed; (b) a plurality of fluid discharge outletsinto said container; (0) said discharge outlets each defining a venturiorifice; and (d) at least one fluidic oscillator in communication withsaid discharge outlets to provide fluid discharge pulsation. 2. Awashing machine in accordance with claim 1, 20 wherein:

each venturi orifice is provided with an inlet opening at the venturiconstriction. 3. A washing machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

each inlet opening extends from its venturi constriction to a dish forselective input of a cleaning fluid.

4. A washing machine, comprising:

(a) a container for articles to be washed;

(b) said container being provided with opposed pairs of dischargeoutlets;

(c) each pair of discharge outlets being in fluid communication with afluidic oscillator to provide pulsation of the discharged fluid; and

(d) a third fluidic oscillator in fluid communication with each two ofsaid fluidic oscillators.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,358,478 12/1967 Heskestad 681843,513,866 5/1970 Boothe et al. 137-81.5 3,373,905 3/1968 Laufer 13781.53,444,710 5/1969 Gangler et al. 68-355 FOREIGN PATENTS 974,007 8/1960Germany 68-184 1,178,332 12/1958 France 68-184 69,817 9/1958 France68184 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

